Maryland State Childcare Association Passion for Excellence Grant

Are you passionate about working with young children? Do you strive for excellence for children and for yourself as a teacher, provider, or program? Let MSCCA help you fuel your passion and achieve the best quality of care for our children.

MSCCA recognizes that every community, program, and person needs something different to be successful. Maybe your program needs equipment to achieve a higher level in EXCELS? Maybe you or one of your staff need Professional Development? MSCCA may be able to help you fulfill your needs.

The MSCCA Passion for Excellence Grant was started to honor past MSCCA Board President Jennifer Nizer and her contributions to the MSCCA and to Maryland’s Child Care industry. In her 6 years as board President, Jennifer was a strong advocate and an inspiring leader. Her passion for excellence encouraged many to strive for the highest quality of care and use their voice to advocate for themselves and others. In 2024, the Passion for Excellence Grant was expanded to honor additional members for their leadership and their passion in the field of Early Childhood Education. The most recent honoree is Charles “Chuck” Wainwright, in recognition of his passion for education and his longevity of service on the board. Chuck has been a mentor to many, and a pillar in the child care community. Please learn more about our honoree’s accomplishments and service on our MSCCA Legacies page. Their own passion for excellence has paved the way for our current and future industry leaders.

Learn More About MSCCA Legacies

The MSCCA Passion for Excellence Grant is a direct service award. If you are awarded the grant, MSCCA will pay for the service or products requested directly by the company supplying said services or goods. We do not make monetary awards directly to applicants. Please read and follow the application guidelines below and submit your request by the deadline indicated. If you have questions, please refer to the FAQ section, or contact Christina Peusch at 410-820-9196 or pfegrant@mscca.org.

Grant applicants must be current members at the state level of the Maryland State Childcare Association. If you are a chapter member and have not joined MSCCA at the state level yet, please complete your membership application before submitting a PFE Grant application. Not sure if you are a member of the MSCCA at the state level? Please contact us at info@mscca.org. You may join MSCCA any time before Oct 15 to apply for this grant.

The application opens on Oct 15, 2025 and closes on March 15, 2026. MSCCA applications are to be submitted electronically through the Passion for Excellence portal. Paper or emailed applications will not be considered, so please apply early to avoid or address any technical difficulties prior to the closing date. Please see the FAQ’s for more information. If you are awarded the grant, all successful grantees must sign a grant agreement regarding the use of funds and required reporting before distribution of the funds can take place.

Awardees are asked to submit testimonials and/or photographs about their awards for MSCCA’s future use. Funding for the Passion for Excellence grant comes solely from our advertising efforts at our conferences. Awardees are encouraged to pay it forward by donating a raffle prize or basket at a future MSCCA conference. Non-compliance with the terms of the grant may influence future application decisions.

You can request anything you need that will improve yourself or your program to provide high quality care for your students. MSCCA will not award grant funds to be used towards daily operating expenses such as snack food, utilities, yard work, rent or salaries. The grant does not pay for capital expenses as we would not have funds for large expansion projects etc.

The grant maximum is $5000.

The Passion for Excellence Grant application is now closed for the current grant application cycle.

Passion for Excellence Grant Form

Section I

Provisions of the grant: Childcare Center who receives grant funds must currently be members of the Maryland State Childcare Association. Individuals applying must work in a childcare center which is a member of MSCCA or must be an Individual Member according to MSCCA application requirements and bylaws. (i.e., Registered Family Childcare) Applicants who receive grant funds must comply with grant application requests to include completing classes or training in full and receive a passing grade or certificate of completion. Applicants who receive grant funds must remain a professional in the childcare field for a minimum of 2 years after the grant is dispersed. The grant is limited to $5000.00 per award. Applications will only be accepted online, through this form. Applications emailed or mailed will be excluded.

Section II

Name of Organization(Required)

Type of MSCCA Membership:(Required)

Center

Individual

School-Age

Organization Website:(Required)

Organization Address:(Required)

Street Address City State ZIP Code

Organization Phone:(Required)

Organization Email:(Required)

Contact Person:(Required)

First Last

Contact Phone:(Required)

Contact Email:(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Additional Contact:

First Last

Additional Phone:

Additional Email:

Description of Community Served (include number, geographic and demographic information):(Required)

Section III

1. What is your organization’s mission statement?
2. Tell us your biggest accomplishments in the past two years. This is your chance to brag about yourself. What challenges have you overcome? What have you done recently to improve your program and to increase the quality of care you provide for your families.

Organization Mission Statement:(Required)

Most Important Accomplishments of the past two years:(Required)

Section IV

1. Grant Request Overview: Please tell us in a few words what your request is? You will have the chance later in the application to be more detailed.
2. Amount requested: Please give us an accurate and complete amount. Don’t forget things like registration fees or shipping costs.
3. Purpose of the Grant Requested: Please be specific here about how the requested services or items are going to improve yourself or your program. For example: We are requesting science materials to meet MSDE accreditation standards.
4. The Grant will be used to: Here is where you can list, specifically, the services or items you are asking for. In section V, you will be asked to upload or send detailed information like an invoice.
5. The Grant will strengthen the ECE community: Please let us know how your requested service or items will strengthen the ECE community.

Grant Request Overview:(Required)

Requested Amount:(Required)

Please enter a number from 0 to 5000.

Purpose of the Grant Requested:(Required)

The Grant will be used to (describe in detail and attach information as requested in the next section):(Required)

The Grant will Strengthen the Childcare and Early Education Community by:(Required)

Section V

1. Upload or send your MSCCA Membership Certificate. If applying between October - December 2025, you will send your 2025 membership. If applying between January – March 15th, you will send your 2026 membership. If you are a member in 2025 when you apply, but you do not renew your membership in 2026, your application will be excluded.
2. Certificates: Upload or send any certificates listed here. If you are requesting something for your program, please include your license and your MD EXCELS certificate. If you are requesting something for an individual, like training, please upload or send the individual’s credential certificate.
3. Completed and signed IRS W9 Form: You can find this form at IRS.gov
4. Tell us about yourself and your program: in this section, we are looking to get to know you better. Please include at least 2 of the items listed. If your Program Handbook or Newsletter is available online - you may provide the link for it in lieu of a hard copy. If uploading or sending photographs, please be sure you have obtained the appropriate releases for them. Think about the items you use to market your program and introduce yourself to your new families. You may include other documentation as you see fit.
5. Complete information for the services or items requested: Since the MSCCA Passion for Excellence Grant is a direct service grant, we need to know exactly how to order the items or register the individual. Please be thorough.

Supporting Documentation: Please upload the following documentation/information required BELOW with your application and submit by March 15, 2025 to MSCCA Grant Committee. For 2024, MSCCA is requiring grant applications to be submitted electronically through the Grant portal OR mailed via certified mail to: MSCCA Grant at 1783 Forest Drive # 314 Annapolis, MD 21401

Current MSCCA Membership Certificate:(Required)

Max. file size: 1 GB.

Additional Certificates (please include all that apply):(Required)

Max. file size: 1 GB.

- Program License, Registration, or LOC
- MD EXCELS
- Maryland Childcare Credential (if applying for an individual)
- CDA (if applying for an individual)
- Please include any other certificates you think may be relevant

Additional Documentation

Max. file size: 1 GB.

Signed IRS W9 Form:(Required)

Max. file size: 1 GB.

Tell us about yourself and your program (PLEASE INCLUDE AT LEAST TWO OF THE FOLLOWING):(Required)

Max. file size: 1 GB.

- Program Brochure
- Program Handbook
- Current Program Newsletter
- 3 to 5 Photographs of the Program
- Resume (if applying for an individual)

Additional Documentation

Max. file size: 1 GB.

Additional Documentation(Required)

Max. file size: 1 GB.

Additional Documentation

Max. file size: 1 GB.

Complete information for the items or service requested:(Required)

Max. file size: 1 GB.

If you are requesting Professional Development, please provide contact information for the college, university, or training company. Please also provide course information and cost. If applicable, please provide proof of acceptance into higher education or training program.
OR
If you are requesting equipment or supplies, please provide company information, item numbers and cost (including shipping costs). If applicable, please provide contact information for a sales representative.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What kind of things can I request?

Can I fill out the application online and email the supporting documentation?

No. Applications will be accepted through the online portal ONLY.

Will the grant cover capital expenses?

The grant does not pay for capital expenses as we would not have funds for large expansion projects etc.

Can members of the regional chapters of MSCCA apply for the PFE Grant?

Yes, but only if you are also a current member of MSCCA at the state level. If you are a chapter member and have not joined MSCCA at the state level yet, please complete your membership application before submitting a PFE Grant application. Not sure if you are a member of the MSCCA at the state level? Please contact us at info@mscca.org.

As the director of Bright Beginnings Childcare, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the childcare donations we’ve received. These contributions have had a direct and meaningful impact on the families we serve and the quality of care we are able to provide.
Additionally, these donations have helped us maintain a high standard of care by allowing us to invest in classroom resources, staff development, and enrichment programs that we might not otherwise be able to afford.

We see the impact of your giving every day—in the smiles of our children, the peace of mind of parents, and the dedication of our staff. Thank you for believing in the power of early childhood education and standing beside us in our mission to support children and families.

Jen Whittington

Director, Bright Beginnings Childcare

This summer, thanks to the generous grant we received from the Maryland State Child Care Association (MSCCA), our students were able to enjoy new outdoor scooters for our school-age program and a snow cone machine that quickly became a highlight of the season.

The scooters were a perfect fit for our older children, giving them the opportunity to comfortably and safely enjoy active play outdoors. The snow cone machine was equally loved—providing dye-free, refreshing treats for both our preschoolers and summer campers. It brought so much joy and created special memories that we know will last for many summers to come.

At Rehoboth Learning Center, we value every chance to get our students outside to play, explore, and build connections. These resources not only supported that goal but also added excitement and fun to our summer programming. We are so grateful to MSCCA for their support and for making such a meaningful impact on the children we serve.

Harmony Wilson

Director, Rehoboth Learning Center